Cadir Idris the hard way

Back in the easter hols the apprentice and RRMK2 took on the 3rd mountain of the W3P (Welsh 3 Peaks)

So in a baking hot day

we set forth

to tackle 

the last big one of the set. 

Naturally we had Mrs Bear 

And Ace

Plus Keeeeef

and Rich and Evie, yes dear readers the team had assembled. 

So were we going to saunter up the tourist track?

No way! We were going to ascend via the crack of doom route 

which basically means walk to rock wall at end of col and climb 

which is easy at first. 

Time for lying around.

But soon it gets steep.

Then very steep.

So steep

its hard to find a rest space,

The last bits are silly steep, like climbing, and the snow made it so much more fun,

This is Keeeeeef in the CoD.

And again, hes not a quick climber is Keeeeef

RRMK2 was first to top out 

and pretty soon all of us were almost at the top all survived. 

Farther on, the apprentice rests with Mrs Bear

RRMK2 caned it to the summit

and then the apprentice got out Eric and Ernie for the summit shot.

Proud dad photo

There's a shelter on the summit, no cafe like Snowdon.

Mrs Bear hates posers. 

The descent was via the tourist track a much longer but safer way and the weather started to change.

Looking back...
 And thats where the battery failed :)

A top day out in the mountains. 

Over the rainbow bridge

We had to say goodbye to Ripley, the poor girl woke up in a sea of pain and there was nothing anyone could do. The tumour that had been growing relentlessly for the last 12 months and was the size of a pineapple on her left side had obviously done something bad and she could barely move. The pic above is her that morning, gorgeous as ever but unable to wag her tail. 

Late afternoon with lots of painkiller to get her through the day we said goodbye, she had some last treats

and managed to catch 9 jaffa cakes in  row, a record, and then settled on the sofa in the garden while our vet gently helped 

her on her way. She was born just before the apprentice so he was as devastated as we were at this event but he was very brave and sat with her while she drew her last breath.

This is Rippers earlier on in the day, you can make out a huge lump on her side.

This is her again under the table with her sister Tasha who didn't leave her side all day and is now a very sad dog missing her friend.

So we say goodbye to a brilliant most vocal beautiful dog. 

 

Pet rescue

Above the usual cacophony of wildlife and dog noises at HQ there was the distinct cry of distress from a lamb. Several minutes of keen observation with the binoculars found the cause

A lamb had somehow managed to get itself wedged between the Oak tree and the wire fence attached to it.

So yours truly dutifully braved the wrath of nettles and set off across the field to do some sheep bothering.

Needless to say the beast was not grateful enough to pose for oh my goodness you've saved me photo and legged it so here is a pic of the return journey with HQ against the Bonsai Mountain.
 

Action Men

RRMK2 and the apprentice got to test their mettle on an army assault course during the half term break 

They were fearless